i just started keeping my mps on my gas buddy app it shows my last tank to be 26.8 and my best to be 35.9... seems kinda crappy for a 1200 that i dont really flog and cruise around 60 on the way to work, i dont let it warm up for more than a minute or two, so maybe thats why as i hear these bikes are cold natured. i have a stage 1 kit and a SE fuel enricher on it. dont get me wrong it runs like a scalded ape and easily lights the rear tire up when i accelerate in 1st even when once in motion, but i believe i still should be getting in the 40's with my riding style.... N8

 

PS fuel light usually come on in the 60's but i fill up @ 100 miles....

 

I have seen a number of similar threads asking about mileage, both in terms of miles per gallon, as well as miles between fillups. When I started out with my Sporty, I had the same questions.

Ironically, there seems to be a wide variation in the answers to both questions. I've heard mpg numbers from 30 mpg to well over 50 mpg, and miles between fillups from 80 to well over 200! Why all of the variations? Well, there are a lot of variables. First there are 3 tank sizes on sportys, 2.2 gal, 3,3 gal, and 4.5 gal.. Then there seems to be significant variation in the amount of fuel remaining when the light goes on, or the thing quits and requires that you switch over to reserve. Many have mentioned how "agressively" they drive influencing mileage. One thing I haven't heard, but which would affect this is whether you are running pure gasoline, or gas with 10% ethanol. So many variables,,,,,, so few answers.

The only, reliable, way to answer these questions is to check YOUR mileage, by filling the tank to a known fill level. ride it as far as you think it will go without quiting, and fill it to that level again. Divide the number of miles you rode by the number of gallons it took to re-fill it to give your mileage. I'd check it a number of times to get a good idea on the range of mileage you are getting. If it seems abnormally low, or high, think about how you rode that last tankful.

Once you have a pretty good idea of what YOU get for mpg, you can simply multiply that number by the size tank you have to determine an approx ultimate range. Personally, I would subtract 1/2 gallon from the tank size before I multiplied this out to give me a reasonable range on a tank.

Another thing I would recommend is to intentionally ride it until it quits, one time, and to fill it up asap after going on reserve to have an idea of how much you really have in that reserve.

Just for information, I have an 05 (carburetor equipped) Sporty with a 4.5 gal tank. I get between 40 and 43 mpg running on gas with 10% ethanol. I can go approx 160 miles on a tank before I have to switch on the reserve, which is good for abut 20 miles. Virtually all of my riding is in trafic, riding in an area where 40 mph is the norm. I would assume I wiould get more mileage if I was riding on the highway at a steady 65-70 mph, but that is an assumption.

 

Over here the 4.5 gallon tank is a 17 litre tank. On my bike, 2017 XL1200T, the low level light comes on reliably when there is 5 litres left.

 

The fuel tank on my 2011 Iron 883 holds 3.3 US gallons or 2.8 UK gallons, my low fuel light comes on at 110 miles from full, I get 140 miles from full to empty, that works out at 50 miles to a UK gallon.

I have a filtered velocity stack with Python 2.5 slip-on mufflers installed and I run her on Shell V-Power fuel.

 

Yes, many variables, including modified engine, e.g., Stage 1 vs stock, different pulley gear, etc.

 

My 2016 883 Iron, with Short Shots, Big Sucker and FP3, does about the same - 110 to the warning light. By refilling to the top and calculating I regularly get around 60mpg (UK gallons) or 14 miles/litre.
l guess I must ride like a total ***** then?!

 

There are lots of steep hills where I live, they do tend to lower the motors mpg figure..

I forgot to mention that I also have a pair of 'Nightrider' XiED leads installed to adjust the fuelling.

 

I get about 120~~ per 3.3 gallons sometimes a little more. I imagine it will get better when I start riding to school and get a bigger front sproket. This is with my 96 1212 high comp and fire chicken 497 cams,
stock 883 hugger gearing.
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That is only if I'm not being a complete jackass